Iranian Nuclear Negotiations in Geneva

Now that the permanent members of the Security Council (U.S., China, U.K., Russia, France) plus Germany (P5+1), have gotten Iran to the negotiating table in Geneva it seems that it is incumbent of the United States to state its case in detail to not only Iran, but also the world. By keeping the public at least partially informed of the negotiations their and the implications thereof we will be able to exert the maximum amount of pressure on the Iranians and their undoubted quest for nuclear weapons. The Iranians have been dealt a crushing blow for the past decade by way of sanctions. To the point where there economy is so crippled that they are unable to refine their own oil, and when leaving Iran, Iranian assets such as airlines are unable to refuel due to the scope of sanctions. This is the pressure the Security Council as well as unilaterally, the U.S. and its partners have placed on Iran. It’s time now for the strategy of choking them off economically, to pay dividends of peace for the region. The new Iranian president (who is still directed by the Supreme Leader Khomeini) has been offered a window of opportunity in these talks that will permit the Iranians to rejoin the world community.

The terms are lenient and correspond with only one aspect of their internal politics; the ceasing of production and subsequent enrichment of not only uranium but plutonium at the various nuclear facilities scattered throughout the country. The Iranians by the sheer amount of pressure placed on them by the U.S. and our allies should be enough of a stick to the Iranians that they decide to peacefully dismantle their nuclear program, completely, and allow for nuclear inspectors from not only the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but also inspectors from the U.S. to verify dismantlement. If Iran continues to play games with the U.S. and offer only token concessions over its nuclear program (as it did today in negotiations in Geneva), the consequences could be dire. Israel, a staunch ally of the U.S. and chief proponent of military strikes in Iran, have already drawn a metaphorical redline in the sand that Iran mustn’t cross. Else face the possibility of tactical nuclear strikes at various facilities in Iran related to their nuclear program.

The United States, however, not to be outdone, has according to reports, drawn up its own plans for how to handle a recalcitrant Iranian policy. Let it be clear, if Iran does not resolve this issue peacefully in Geneva, there is a real possibility that it will be resolved violently, strategically, and with nuclear weapons being dropped on Iranian soil. For the Israelis the choice is clear. The anti-Semitic regime in Iran must not be able to get anywhere even close to acquiring nuclear weapons. Erstwhile in Washington the main objective of protecting its regional partners and preventing a region wide arms race are the foundations of American foreign policy over the last twenty plus years.

So as Geneva continues and the talks go on, we as Americans should not forget the very real stakes that are on the table. As well as the very real consequences of not being able to come to a reasonable reckoning with the Iranians on not only their nuclear program, but the regimes xenophobic attitude toward its regional arch nemesis, Israel. If we are to prepare a world for our children, and children’s’ children that is safe and free from the type of threats in not only Iran but North Korea too then the time is now to begin that long and arduous task ahead of us an order to protect the civility and comity which right now exist between nations.